New show Truth is a Virus, supporing AIDS charity work in rural China
The suddenly getting busy River South Art Center in Shanghai has a new show, with proceeds of works on sale going to AIDS charities.
The upcoming show is Truth is a Virus
Details follow, including Chinese and English texts.
Curator：Zoe Zhang Bing
Artists：Gao Feng
Reception：2008.11.29 3pm
Dates：2008.11.29 - 12.20
Venue：No.1247 Nan Suzhou Rd, Shanghai
Presented By: Shanghai Is Art / Marie Stopes International / UNAIDS China
Supported By: River South Art Center
如果艾滋病是一种病毒，对它的恐惧与排斥则是另外一种”病毒”，它们相互繁殖，传播和感染。自然灾害，人为破坏以及文化隔阂，同样也在生活中扮演这种彼此侵害的角色。病毒是习惯，是科技依赖；病毒是歧视，排外；病毒是潜规则；病毒是流行文化。病毒也是名利二字，催发了中国当代艺术的变迁发展，也制造了大量的艺术垃圾。
随着12月1日世界艾滋病日逐渐邻近，高风个展《病毒正传》以病毒为切入点，触发公众对艾滋病知识的进一步了解，也思考包括疾病在内的更多迫害生命的隐喻对象。
《病毒正传》为联合国艾滋病规划署和英国玛丽斯特普国际组织与独立策划人张冰的第二次联手合作，作品分为《前世》和《今生》两大系列，并配合部分手稿以故事叙述的方式呈现。艺术家将”病毒细胞”从现实生活中抽取出来，再注入中国古典绘画之中，不仅创造出惊人的变异，用展览为病毒立传的想法也展现出策展人的大胆创意。
展览所有作品将参加慈善销售，收入捐献给玛丽斯特普国际组织属下的”你我”基金，用于支持大学生在边缘农村，山区，工地和外来女工的对于艾滋病知识的宣传教育。
AIDS is an insidious virus, yet society’s abhorrence of AIDS has bred another kind of virus as well. Together, these co-dependent diseases multiply, spread and infect. Natural disasters, man-made catastrophes and cultural barriers have also played significant roles in the cycle of devastation. Coinciding with World AIDS Day on December 1st, the solo exhibition of Chinese contemporary artist Gao Feng, entitled “Truth is a Virus”, brings the topic of viruses to the forefront, whether it be the proliferation of diseased notions or the AIDS virus itself.
This exhibition is the second collaboration between UNAIDS, Marie Stopes International and independent contemporary art curator Zoe Zhang Bing. Zoe was first inspired to hold a charity exhibition benefiting AIDS prevention when she discovered that much of what she knew about AIDS was inaccurate, fueled by rumor rather than truth. She became intent on proliferating the truth about AIDS.
“Truth is a Virus” presents two main series of Gao Feng’s works, “Past Life” and “The Present”, and complements these works with hand-drawn drafts that provide further illumination to the story behind the series. Gao Feng’s unique style extracts the viruses ever-present in our daily lives and transplants them into the style and context of early and contemporary Chinese artwork, thereby creating not only captivating pieces but also bold statements about a virus that is often too taboo to speak of.
All exhibited works are available for sale, with proceeds going to the Marie Stopes International “You and Me” Fund, which supports university students’ volunteer efforts in AIDS education in rural and
mountainous areas, factories and for migrant female workers.